Category Archives: redistricting

“Forecasting the Flashpoints”

July 30, 2012, 7:37 amcitizen commissions, redistrictingRick Hasen

Nick Stephanopoulos has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Harvard Law Review Forum). Here is the abstract: In an earlier article, I relied on 2005-2009 data from the American Community Survey (ACS) to analyze the congressional districts that were used… Continue reading

“Alabama Seeks Court OK for Redistricting, Bypasses DOJ”

July 28, 2012, 9:57 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

WSJ law blog: “The Voting Rights Act has been challenged more in the last two years than in the previous 45 years, and as the state of Alabama goes to court seeking approval for its redistricting plan, it’s also looking… Continue reading

Ballot Argument of the Day

July 24, 2012, 1:59 pmcitizen commissions, direct democracy, redistrictingRick Hasen

California Republicans abandon Prop 40’s attempt to overturn CA Redistricting Commission

“Beginning of the end for ‘prison-based gerrymandering’”

July 15, 2012, 7:52 pmfelon voting, redistrictingRick Hasen

Important WaPo oped from Peter Wagner: ” Sandwiched between its controversial immigration, campaign finance and health-carerulings last month, the Supreme Court issued a little-noticed decision in a Maryland case that gave the green light to states to eliminate… Continue reading

California Citizen Commission a Success, on At Least One Measure

July 13, 2012, 8:13 amcitizen commissions, redistrictingRick Hasen

When Californians considered Proposition 11, establishing the redistricting commission, I was skeptical that the Rube Goldberg-esque machine could actually pass a plan, which could be implemented in time for the 2012 elections, which would not be subject to a major… Continue reading

“Single-member districts offer mixed bag for minorities; Montgomery wants what Prince George’s has — a majority-Hispanic district”

July 13, 2012, 8:07 amalternative voting systems, redistricting, referendumRick Hasen

News from Maryland. In more Maryland redistricting news see this report, “Redistricting petition drive meets signature goal; Supporters expect legal challenge to congressional map.”

“California Redistricting Commission Receives Funding, will Continue Limited Operations”

July 12, 2012, 7:36 pmcitizen commissions, redistrictingRick Hasen

RedistrictingOnline.org reports.

Redistricting Resource: Maps, Maps, Maps

July 8, 2012, 11:19 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

Also, another redistricting-related announcement. PDFs, ESRI shapefiles, and Google maps of all of the new federal and state redistricting lines, along with links to state pages with more data about the new districts, are now available here. (All, that… Continue reading

175th (and 176th) Redistricting Lawsuit Filed

July 8, 2012, 11:14 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

That’s right — 40 states have now seen 176 lawsuits affecting redistricting this cycle … so far. Numbers 173-176 were filed challenging the newest Pennsylvania state maps late last week. Details on all of the litigation so far, here.… Continue reading

“So what’s going on in the Texas redistricting cases?”

July 5, 2012, 9:36 amDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Nada.

Ohio Redistricting Reform Headed to Ballot?

July 3, 2012, 12:09 pmredistricting, voter initiativesJustin Levitt

Pending signature verification, it looks like Ohio may have redistricting reform on the ballot once again this November. The initiative would create a commission to draw districts modeled in some ways on California’s new commission, though with important differences in… Continue reading

Interesting NJ Federal Court Opinion on Candidates’ Durational Residency

July 3, 2012, 10:42 amredistricting, residencyJustin Levitt

In a 2001 decision in Robinson v. Bartels, a NJ federal court invalidated New Jersey’s one-year durational residency requirement for state legislative candidates following a redistricting cycle, on federal constitutional grounds. Earlier this year, the NJ State Supreme Court disagreed,… Continue reading

[Maryland] “Congressional Map Opponents Turn in 36K Signatures”

July 1, 2012, 5:54 pmredistricting, referendumJustin Levitt

The referendum campaign to overturn Maryland’s congressional maps turns in 36,267 signatures. That’s just 7,294 more than the requirement — a pretty slender margin for any petition. So now, the white knuckles turn to verification of the signatures…